Floral Love – Viscose

Look closely at floral love and the details start to appear. Small cream and coral flowers sit among tiny pink daisies, scattered red berries and green leaves, and many of the leaves are shaped like little hearts. Against black, every colour glows, so the print feels sweet and a little bit romantic. It’s the kind of floral you’ll want in a dress you can wear all summer.

Why it’s a great summer fabric

Viscose is a natural choice for warm weather, and this one is light and silky, with a soft feel against the skin. It’s breathable, so it stays comfortable when the temperature rises, and the drape is fluid, so a dress or a skirt skims the body and moves with you instead of clinging. A black background also gives you a polished look that works from a beach walk to a dinner out, and it goes with all the plain colours already in your wardrobe.

Room to work

The flowers and leaves are small and scattered all over the cloth in every direction, so there’s no big motif to place and no pattern to match. The wide width leaves plenty of room to cut, which suits gathered skirts, tiered dresses, wide sleeves and generous trouser legs.

What to make

• Dresses: tea dresses, wrap dresses, shirt dresses and smock dresses
• Blouses and tops: relaxed shirts, camisoles and tie-neck tops
• Skirts: gathered, tiered and bias-cut styles that swish as you walk
• Trousers and jumpsuits: wide-leg trousers, culottes and jumpsuits

Good for winter events, too

Wear it with tights and a tailored jacket or a cosy cardigan for parties and Christmas.

Sewing tips

• Wash gently before cutting, as viscose can shrink
• Choose a fine, sharp needle and a medium stitch length
• Neaten seams to stop fraying, with French seams, an overlocker, a zigzag stitch or bias binding
• Press on a low heat from the reverse, with a pressing cloth if you have one

• Width: 150cm/60" (approx)
• Composition: 100% Viscose
• Fabric Type: Viscose
• Colour: Black, Multicoloured

✔Machine washable at 30°C or lower, on a gentle cycle
✔Wash inside out with similar dark colours, as prints on black can bleed
✔Do not use bleach
✔Do not tumble dry
✔Dry flat or line dry in the shade
✔Iron on a low heat, on the reverse
✔Always test a small sample first to check your preferred washing method

Viscose is made from plant-based cellulose, and this fabric is made to be worn and washed for years. Choosing a well-made fabric with a timeless floral, and caring for it gently, helps your handmade wardrobe last.